The men's high jump event at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Soviet Union, had an entry list of 30 competitors from 19 nations.

[1] The event was won by Gerd Wessig of East Germany, the first gold medal by a German athlete in the men's high jump.

Jörg Freimuth took bronze, making East Germany the third nation (after the United States and Soviet Union) to have two medalists in the event in the same Games.

Due at least in part to the American-led boycott, the United States' streak of making the podium in every Olympic men's high jump event to date (18 times before 1980) ended.

American Dwight Stones (2.32 metres just days after taking bronze in Montreal) was absent due to the American-led boycott.

Wszoła had set the then-current record of 2.35 metres in 1980; Dietmar Mögenburg of West Germany had matched it the next day.